Ted Cruz gracefully suspended his campaign for the Republican nomination for president last night. Good for him.
John Kasich has also ended his hapless campaign as the only Republican in the field that supported and voted for the 1994 federal scary gun ban.
Donald Trump acknowledged Mr. Cruz’s departure from the race with kind words and praise, calling Cruz “one hell of a competitor”. That’s high praise from Donald Trump.
Today, we’re greeted with more punditry, both good and bad.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
1. The same, so-called “conservatives” who today so vigorously predict a landslide win for Hillary are the same bunch of yahoos who told us six months ago that Trump was a joke candidate and would never win a single primary, much less the nomination. They then jumped from candidate to candidate after Jeb Bush bowed out in an effort to thwart Donald Trump, who they see as an agent of real change in the status quo – and change is the last thing today’s GOP establishment wants. These pundits have been so very wrong time and time again in the past, and they’ll be wrong again come November.
2. Trump hasn’t killed the Republican party. Far from it. The GOP establishment has wounded the Republican party. The Republicans have been withering away since Ronald Reagan left office. Why? The “blue bloods” hate conservatism. They are more interested in power, money and self-aggrandizement. They scored a landslide in 1994 and did little to show for it, except smoke cigars and sip cognac, and then watched as their electoral gains evaporated in follow-on elections.
The Republicans regained control of Congress and the White House under Bush. What did they do to take advantage of their electoral mandate? Little of nothing. We, as the voters, got excuses, not results. The Establishment Republicans lost big in 2006 and again in 2008 with the arrival of Barack Obama.
Obama’s fundamental transformation of America soon alienated voters.
America gave Republicans landslide elections in 2010 and 2014. Republicans regained control to both the House and Senate. What have Establishment Republicans given us these past few years? Have they worked to defund Obamacare or roll back spending or Obama’s executive orders? Have they given us pro-gun legislation at the national level? Have they stopped Obama’s fringe nominees to the US Supreme Court? Far from it. They’ve instead giving Obama a blank check without a budget to spend, spend, spend. The so-called “Republicans” rolled over to Obama’s demands and nominations at every turn.
3. Today, the establishment Republicans and many so-called “conservatives” haughtily make fun of the voters who pulled the lever for Donald Trump. They think are smarter than their fellow Republicans. What they don’t realize is that they are the ones who are out of touch with what America likes and wants. They also fail to see how this childish behavior just cements support for Trump and alienates everyday conservatives from these f0lks. Look at Glenn Beck. He’s come off looking like a complete wingnut and it’s cost him dearly as droves of his “subscribers” cancelled their subscriptions. His media empire is imploding. He’s laid off 40 of his staff and more layoffs may be right around the corner.
5. Ted Cruz is indeed a pretty solid conservative in today’s world. The GOPe rushed to help his campaign in the past few weeks because as much as they hate conservatives, he was vastly superior in their minds to Donald J. Trump – a man they had no control over or leverage under. He’s not perfect, but nobody is. However, by bowing out now, he’s assured himself potential consideration as a VP choice or a Supreme Court nominee.
6. No candidate will be “perfect” for any of us as individuals. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good enough. Don’t create artificial requirements for Donald Trump. Yes, he’s an “unknown” quantity. He does have a proven track record in business at getting people together and making things happen. He’s a tough negotiator. He’s a very intelligent man.
Trump & Hillary on GUNS
Guns Save Life is about guns and self-defense. Let’s look at Donald Trump on our issue:
In the October 2015 MSNBC debate:
Skip to 13:38.
In short:
He has a carry license.
He might feel more comfortable if his employees carried.
He carries, somewhat regularly – but unpredictably – it seems.
Gun-free zones are “target practice” for the sickos. They are a catastrophe.
He cites the folly of “gun free zones” on military bases – and in schools.
Pledges to change eliminate “gun free zones” from his properties.
In another debate, he was asked what gun control laws he would support. He said, “None“. That was a refreshing answer.
I’m not sure even Ronald Reagan would have made that pledge in a debate. Mr. Establishment Republican George Bush admitted publicly that he would have signed a scary gun ban if it landed on his desk.
And while Donald Trump has been utterly unwavering in his support for our Second Amendment rights, it’s another world in the Democrat field. Hillary touts her acrimony towards our gun rights at every turn.
Hillary hates your guns and she hates my guns. She campaigns against civil rights and nobody bats an eye.
The next president will get to name probably four, if not five Supreme Court seats, and their imprint will last for a generation or more.
TRUMP HILLARY.
Once again: Donald or Hillary. It’s your choice.
So, you’ve got four choices come November.
1. You can vote for Donald Trump – a guy who has a carry license, who carries, who supports your gun rights and whose family enjoys guns, hunting and shooting.
2. You can vote for Hillary Clinton – a woman who will work tirelessly against gun rights because it’s one campaign topic that her voters apparently support and will affect precious few of them.
3. You can throw a temper tantrum and refuse to participate, staying home on election day. That’s not the responsible or mature thing to do, nor is it something that would make our Founding Fathers proud. In fact, they might turn in their graves at the great personal sacrifices they made to give us this great nation only to have people sit out elections over a snit.
4. You can throw away your vote on a third party candidate. Throw away. That’s right. Third parties don’t send messages. They are the irrelevant fringe that nobody cares about. While third parties are struggling to get on ballots, major party candidates are struggling to win elections. You get the idea.
So, it’s time to get registered and get out there and make a difference.
Meanwhile, check out this video.
Mr. Trump maliciously and deliberately defamed and damaged the reputation of a good and honorable man (Mr. Cruz) in order to achieve a political victory while the press looked on smiling.
Mr. Trump will achieve an important goal – blowing up the “political elites” and bringing back nationalism to mainstream USA. However, he is clearly not an honorable man.
He will get my support. But, it will not be enthusiastic.
Seeing and hearing Cruz these last few weeks, I’m not so sure he is clean and pure as the wind-driven snow. In fact, some of his actions relating to delegates seemed downright slimy. In any event, I am very pleased The Donald is the nominee. Hillary will finally meet a worthy opponent.
It only “seemed” that way if you were not knowledgeable on the facts. He played the delegate game according to the rules. Trump was incompetent when it came to that, so all he could do was cry foul and call names, and too many in the media played along with his game.
“Good and honorable man”? That’s a good one. No, really. The lying, win-at-all-costs adulterer as a good and honorable man. Good as far as politicans go, I would agree – but no way an honorable man.
THE BARNHARDT AXIOM:
The fact that a given person is holding or seeking high-level public office is, in and of itself, proof that said person is morally and/or psychologically UNFIT to hold public office.
Sorry fellas, but she’s right. All of the “good” politicians that are sold to us are actually carefully packaged turds: Rubio, Cruz, Ryan … the GOP establishment “conservative” golden boys. In reality, a bunch of corrupt hacks. Arguably better than some alternatives, but nowhere near what they’re labeled.
It’s okay to hold your nose and vote for the lesser evil. At least you’re being honest with yourself when you do it. But don’t kid yourself that *ANY* of these guys are really good and honorable.
No argument about the Barnhardt Axiom.
So he gets labeled an adulterer just because Trump’s buddy at the Enquirer prints a phony story? By they way, what ever happened to that story? Didn’t last long, did it? If the word slimy is to be used describing anyone, it is Trump. The adulterer story didn’t work, so they had to move on to the next one about Cruz’s dad, another load of crap. Who, really, is the one trying to “win at all costs?”
The axiom is stupid. So just the fact that an honorable person is running for office, that makes him dishonorable. Sounds like Barhhardt is an idiot. If you believe that, then why ever bother voting?
Cruz is one of the most anti-establishment people out there. John Boner’s comments about him last week tell you all you need to know.
You forgot about Crus also being the Zodiak killer and his dad’s involvement in the JFK assination. The media reported that – so it MUST be true. If you are going to blindly believe what the media feeds you, then you should go all in…
“So he gets labeled an adulterer just because Trump’s buddy at the Enquirer prints a phony story?”
I thought the original poster was talking about Trump because that describes him and he’s openly admitted it.
The choice seems clear, except maybe for those emotionally too wrapped up in things to look at it dispassionately.
If we work together, Trump will win and we will make America great again indeed.
“You can throw away your vote on a third party candidate.” I find this statement extremely offensive. The only votes that are “throw away” are votes that are made for a candidate that you don’t truly believe in. A vote for the lesser of two evils is still a vote for evil. Vote for who you believe in and who’s stance on the issues most align with your own. The biggest problem with politics in this country is that the parties have convinced people that there are only two choices. Most people are not truly voting for a candidate, but against one. These parties are not there to do the will of the people. They are there to get themselves elected, stay in power, and line their own pockets and the pockets of their masters. Look at what these parties have accomplished in the last 20 years. Can you name a single thing that has truly been good for this country? Social security reform? Immigration reform? Tax reform? Tort reform? Education? Health? Anything that has been passed at all on any of these issues has not made a true difference but has only made things worse for the people of this country and made a select few very wealthy. I for one think it is time we took the power away from both of these parties and gave it to someone else. Could it really be any worse than it is already? The big two are really the same, one big party….and we ain’t invited!
“You can throw away your vote on a third party candidate.” I find this statement extremely offensive.
Don’t care if you find facts offensive. You don’t have any constitutional right not to be offended.
” I for one think it is time we took the power away from both of these parties and gave it to someone else. ”
You should like every other third-party snake-oil salesman that has passed through. It’s just a charlatan talking. You might talk a good game, but in the end, third party votes are thrown in the garbage.
Name for me any third-party candidate that has gotten 50% +1 of the votes for any major elected office in the last fifty years.
At best, third-party candidates have been nothing but spoilers allowing the political opposition to take a win in a close race because the candidate nearest their own beliefs wasn’t “pure” enough or “good” enough.
Hence the trite little phrases like “A vote for the lesser of two evils is still a vote for evil.”
There’s only one evil person running for president and her name isn’t Donald. Two if you count communism as evil.
John
Throwing away a vote on a third party is your opinion, not a fact. The reason I find your statement offensive is that you present it as a fact. You are correct that I don’t have a constitutional right to not be offended. However, I have a constitutional right to freedom of speech and I am exercising that right.
Just because a third party candidate has never “gotten 50% +1 of the votes for any major elected office in the last fifty years” doesn’t mean they weren’t the best candidate. It means that the majority of the population are stupid sheep who will listen to whatever bullshit is fed to them. Research the candidates before you vote, don’t just listen to what the media, the NRA, your preacher, union leader, other candidates, or the crazy nutjob on the street says.
If you truly think that Donald Trump is the best person for the job, then by all means vote for him. But don’t vote for him just because he is the republican nominee or because the NRA told you to.
I refuse to vote for Donald Trump based on ONE simple thing that he said. I happen to agree with him on most issues, but when he said he would ban muslims from entering the country, that turned me off. I am not a muslim, but it is wrong for the gov’t to discriminate against or endorse any specific religion. If we ban muslims from entering this country based solely on religion, how long until we ban Christians? Jews?
I have always considered myself conservative and usually lean republican/libertarian. The last few elections, though, I find it increasingly hard to identify with a republican party that is filled with nothing but warmongers and elitists(you can’t honestly tell me that John McCain or Mitt Romney were ever the best choice for this country). And I refuse to vote for ANY party that believes in bigger gov’t.
This will be the last time I participate in your website or even visit it. I have found it to be bordering on racist of late, and I am getting tired of reading your dumbass opinions. I also don’t care for your arrogant attacks towards people commenting. Discussion is one thing, but you just want to slam anyone who doesn’t agree with your every word.
Below are two quotes from Thomas Jefferson on political parties. Try reading something other than American Rifleman for a change.
“I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all.” –Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 1789. ME 7:300
“Were parties here divided merely by a greediness for office,…to take a part with either would be unworthy of a reasonable or moral man.” –Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 1795. ME 9:317
Slow down John – you’re expressing your opinion. Please don’t claim it is a fact.
I agree with minuteman here…
All human beings have evil inside of them. All of a life is a choice between evils in an attempt to maximize the good in the world.
Seriously, our responsibility as adult stewards of this planet is to DO THE MOST GOOD POSSIBLE WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE.
These resources will:
-Be Imperfect
-Be Ugly
-Be Corrupt to varying degrees
-Have harmful side effects
-Produce imperfect solutions
But that’s the human conditions: Imperfect humans using imperfect means and imperfect tools to produce the best possible imperfect solution they can.
What difference, really, does it make what Trump says about gun rights today? It could very well be different tomorrow. Today we learned that he has likely changed his mind regarding increasing the minimum wage. He has been opposed to it but now, not so much.
He has already wavered a bit about the border and building the wall. Why should we expect gun rights to be any different?
Because Hillary has been VERY consistent on what’s she said about guns.
I’ll take a coin toss over and absolutely certain catastrophe.
Or in other words, I’ll play a round of Russian roulette before I hand a loaded gun to someone who has openly announced they’re going to shoot me in the face with it.
Cruz values alligned most closely to mine. Trumpies love to cry foul because their almighty whines about a “rigged system” that has been there for over a hundred years. For someone who is suppose to be masterful in the art of the deal he sure was clueless to “the facts” of delegate system that were out there for every one in the race to see. Cruz is not slimy just knowledgeable. Slimy is making false accusations and using the Nat’l Enquirer to back you up (Trump). So tell me what good are “New York values” if they don’t defend our very basic constitutional freedoms. Warning: our 2nd Amendment right will quickly dissapate once the others of speech, assembly, fair trial are compromised in negotiations with the Dems, Pelosi and Schumer. Ever hear Trump vow to protect the Constitution? Cruz did all the time. I hope Trump feels that the good of the country is more important than his ego. We have had enough of narcissistic “leaders” fleecing the sheeple of America. I am not one of those so easily fooled.
Its nice to know some of you are as pure as the wind driven snow.
I, however, live in Illinois. I vote in EVERY primary and general election and I do not get to vote for my perfect candidate EVER.
I get a FOID card even if I think its onerous.
I get a concealed carry card, even though constitutionally I should not have to.
I really liked Scott Walker because of what he has done in WI. but he did not make it to the Illinois primary so I voted for Cruz.
I will vote for Trump with a great hope, because Hillary must not ever, positively, under no circumstances be allowed to enter anything but federal prison.
Please get over yourselves, Hillary MUST lose or Benghazi and your gun rights will all disappear.
Not seeing many people here saying they won’t vote for Trump. As disgusting as I think he is, I will hold my nose and vote for him, just as I did with Romney and McCain. However, being here in Illinois, I don’t see how it will matter how I vote, or if I don’t vote. The chances of Trump winning Illinois are slim to none.
Oh, ye of little faith.
KK, I think you will be surprised at the number of people in Illinois who are fed-up with things as they are, and horrified at the mere thought of the female Dem candidate getting her hands on the Oval Office. Illinois can go Republican. Remember that Sen Bill Brady almost beat Pat Quinn (ugh) in 2010 – if only THREE more enthusiastic gun owners had voted for Brady in each precinct in the state, Brady would have won – it was that close. We have Gov. Rauner now. Quinn was a disaster, and simply did not have a lock on it. Enthusiasm, folks, Enthusiasm! Sitting out the vote is not an option, unless you are content to give up your rights.
2010 was the year of the Tea Party, where Republicans won all over the place. But in Illinois, not so much. Yes there are a whole lot of people here that are fed up, but we still have to overcome the black hole that is Chitcago. I always vote, and will this time as well, even though what or who I vote for seldom seems to win.
I know a lot of Bernie supporters who say they will vote for Trump rather than “Hitlery”.
If we can just get it through their thick skulls that when Trump is talking about deporting people, he’s only talking about ILLEGAL aliens, not all immigrants or all Mexicans. So far, it’s been like talking to a brick wall on that subject unfortunately.
As an example, the latest polls show a dead heat in Pennsylvania between Trump and Clinton. Pennsylvania hasn’t gone Republican since 1988.
It’s possible….
When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.
“I will vote for Trump with a great hope, because Hillary must not ever, positively, under no circumstances be allowed to enter anything but federal prison.”
Spot. Freaking. On.
This will be yet another election where there is not a candidate to vote for. I can barely remember the last when I actually voted for someone, but have always voted against someone. It does come down to who you want the least and vote for the other. Trump has found the pulse of society and has kept his focus there. He will be a different candidate now he is the presumed Republican candidate. He will try to appeal to a broader base. If he wants the Office, he has some convincing to do.
We can only hope Trump will take the shrill one to the woodshed, brings out any and all transgressions she has ever committed in public office as well as what she enabled ‘ol slick wee wee to get away with.
Again, we need some of the “hope and change” the fool presently in the white hut promised in ’07- ’08.
Vote “Freedom First”, #neverhillary!
I have a number of hopes on this:
First, I hope that when Trump BECOMES President, he doesn’t disappoint us. It will be good to be a proud American once again.
Second, if we DON’T get him in the WHite House this time around, we Conservatives WILL NEVER, EVER have a voice in our government again. It will be over.
Third, the entire partisan political RACE thing sucks. It’s ugly, and calls to mind the other aphorism that one doesn’t want to watch laws or sausages being made.
Fourth, it is HEARTENING to see Secret Servicemen RUN to protect their charge. It’s been a long time since they had a man that they DEEMED worthy of their protection, instead being required to carry packages, baggage and to hold umbrellas for the imposters of high office.
Fifth, you numbskull circle-jerkers can whine and cry all you want, but get in line now, or it’s all over. There is NO THIRD PARTY message. We learned that when we voted for the businessman, Perot, before. It was a VOTE FOR CLINTON. DO NOT MAKE THAT SAME MISTAKE again, or it’ll be Catholics, Methodists and Rotarians in the gas chambers and ditches.
Sixth, no matter WHAT the outcome of these elections, GOD has the plan well enough in hand. Do not put your hopes in this plane, but in the next.
Are you ready? It’s almost here…………….
“Second, if we DON’T get him in the WHite House this time around, we Conservatives WILL NEVER, EVER have a voice in our government again. It will be over.”
^^^THIS!!^^^
The next president picks 5 supreme court Justices. THIS is the high-stakes table folks. Presidents are not all that powerful as Obama “The Greatest gun salesman of all time” has demonstrated.
If Hillary gets into office, we will lose EVERY. SINGLE. SUPREME. COURT. CASE. FOR. 60. YEARS.
By the time we even have an opportunity to get new people on the bench, 3 generations will have been born in raised in a country with a gun-culture like the UK. By then there will be no one left who even understands why we need to fight…
The choice seems clear we are voting for TRUMP!
I don’t care that Trump has a carry permit.
In NYC and NY State, that’s just a state issued certification to show you that I’m somebody and you ain’t. The case that NYC makes it basically impossible for a regular person to get a carry permit unless you are a member of the “elite” rankles me enough to completely disregard it.
If (a big if) Trump carries, it’s not for defense but to show you how far up the food chain he is since he can get something the average workign stiuff in NYC can only dream of.